From Ron Paul’s Facebook page, June 3rd, 2016 (video below is a little over 4 minutes long):
Libertarian activists appear to be split on the Johnson/Weld ticket. There was a strong objection to Bill Weld being picked as VP out of fear of watering down the libertarian message. My advice to the Libertarian Party remains the same: to convey a crisp and non-watered down message of liberty. At this point, I’m not ready to endorse the Libertarian ticket. I discuss below:
I’m not ready to endorse the Libertarian ticket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjNN4YDIZDw
Andy–
You are not the first to mention Larry for Gov. in NY in 2018.
I am certain that will be explored further.
All the best!
Mark, I agree with supporting the candidates up to a point, and that point is when candidates stray too far from libertarian philosophy, or have other character flaws which should make unworthy of support.
I did not attend the 2004 LP National Convention in Atlanta, but if I had been there I would have voted for Aaron Russo. I would have favored Gary Nolan over Michael Badnarik as well. It was not as though I disliked Badnarik, I just thought that Russo or Nolan could have reached more people. I fully supported Badnarik post nomination, and I volunteered for and donated money to his campaign, and I was happy to vote for him in November.
I WANT LP candidates that i can support, so if I do not support one, then it is for good reasons.
I think that it actually damages the party to support bad candidates, as it sends the message that we will support anyone with an “L” next to their names, just like the Democrats blindly support anyone with a “D” next to their name and the Republicans blindly support anyone with an “R” next to their name. Libertarians should have higher standards than that.
Larry Sharpe impressed me at the convention. The LP of New York ought to recruit him to run for Governor in 2018.
Andy,
I understand your sentiments entirely.
In the recent contest, I supported Larry Sharpe, whom I know better and longer than most everyone else reading this, but he did not win. (Note that my State went 78% for Larry, which I think is the most of any delegation.)
Nevertheless, I believe it is important in the quest for Liberty to promote the Libertarian Party however I can to the outside world, regardless of whether I supported its candidates previously at the internal party Conventions.
So, I have supported and voted for the nominated LP candidates since Bergland ’84, including Ron Paul in ’88 even though I preferred Russell Means that year, and Teeth’s and your all-time favorite ticket of Barr/Root in 2008 after strongly supporting Mary Ruwart through the Convention.
It’s kinda what we do in politics. We fight our battles, and then come together behind the victor.
Now Ron Paul is in a different position than we are. You are I are worker bees, and he is a guru. He could endorse Chuck Baldwin (not a bad choice in my opinion) after Barr stupidly snubbed him, and still be on the Libertarian pedestal.
Yeah, it was a lot easier when I was a Browne delegate in ’96 and Harry was the overwhelmingly-supported nominee. But that does not mean it is unlibertarian to support the Libertarian candidates, even when they are less than perfect 100/100 scorers on the Nolan Chart as in recent times, .
Mark, I have not voted for the Libertarian Party presidential ticket since 2004 either, and given the results of this convention, I will not be voting for the LP’s ticket again.
Why? Because I do not believe in rewarding the party when it nominates candidates who lack principles.
My first allegiance is to the cause of liberty. Blind allegiance to a party or to any organization is foolish, because organizations can become corrupted, or just do things that are stupid.
If we blindly vote for anyone who has the Libertarian label next to their name, then we will end up being as unprincipled as the Democrats and Republicans.
I cast a write in vote for Ron Paul / Gail Lightfoot in 2008 (they had official write in status in California). I wrote in None Of The Above for President in 2012. It looks like I will either write in NOTA for President or cast another write in vote for President this year.
I have continued to vote for Libertarian Party candidates that have appeared on my ballots for down ticket offices other than President.
I would love to have a libertarian Libertarian presidential ticket to vote for this year. It is a shame that the majority of delegates in Orlando decided to not give us one. The election season is a lot more fun when you have a ticket to support.
Yeah, and Johnson 2012 greatly benefited from Ron Paul 2008 and 2012 greatly expanding recognition of the word libertarian, plus Johnson 2012 also benefited from the internet, which is a cheap way to reach millions of people.
RTAA
I have never considered Paul the be all of the movement. He’s okay but he isn’t sitting on a throne as some seem to think. We need to remember that in 2012 Johnson received at 3 times the number if votes that Paul did in ’88.
Teeth,
Really? Is that because the alternatives were so much better?
Pete Blome: Ron Paul is showing that Republican survival instinct …
No. If Paul’s “Republican survival instinct” were so strong, he wouldn’t have endorsed Chuck Baldwin in 2008. If Paul is refraining from endorsing Johnson/Weld at this point, it’s because Paul isn’t yet satisfied with Johnson/Weld.
I don’t blame Paul. I won’t be voting for Johnson/Weld either. Of course, I haven’t voted for a Libertarian presidential ticket since 2004.
Pity. Ron Paul is showing that Republican survival instinct of his that has gotten him so far while holding him back so much. He knows the Mafia rule, “don’t crap where you eat.”
Not surprising if you heard his video at national when he accepted an award. There was great concern that in the acceptance he would endorse Johnson. I found the acceptance unfortuatne in that he somewhat though fairly delicately tilted toward Johnson’s opponents.
Andy, well he is a paleo-conservative not a libertarian so…. that wouldn’t surprise me.
I would not blame Ron Paul at all if he endorsed Darrell Castle instead.
If you get an error message, which I did not get on ATPR, maybe it’ll work here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjNN4YDIZDw